Combination high and low pressure storage tank



March 23, 1943@ 3 (300 2,314,442 Q COMBINATION HIGH AND'LOWiPRESSURE STORAGE TANK Filed Dec. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l low PRESSOIZE HIGH PRESSURE JTOBAGE 574:5

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r COMBINATION HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE STORAGE TANK Filed D60. 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 23, 1943 COMBINATION HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE STORAGE TANK George B. Cook, Summit, N. 1., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,368

(Cl. 220-F3) 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to storage tanks for fluids and especially to the construction of tanks for the storage of liquids'under pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a dual As shown in the drawings, the tank structure has the general appearance of a typical spheroidal tank, having upwardly and inwardly curving walls substantially continuous with a roof which has a centrally disposed domed section. The present tank differs from the ordinary spheroid, however, in that actually it is formed of a tubular annulus in which the central opening has been covered by the roof portion. The

' structure thus provides two separate storage compartments, of which the outer one is partic-- ularly adapted for pressure storage, due to the recognized structural strength-of cylindrical or tubular bodies, and their ability to resist distortion under either external or internal pressure. At the same time, the tubular annulus provides an excellent wall for a secondary storage compartment in the centrally disposed area which it bounds.

Referring to the drawings, in the tank structure illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral l designates a base on which is marginally disposed a peripheral storage compartment 2. forming a hollow wall enclosing a center storage compartment 3 having a roof 4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the base I is formed as a unit of a cementitious material such as concrete.

and has a dish-shaped upper surface. The peripheral storage compartment or annulus 2 is tubular, preferably having a circular cross section, although it may be elliptical. The annulus is disposed marginally of the base, being sub,- stantially supported thereby. Additional supsupported by suitable structural adapted to receive the lower portion of the tubular storage compartment.

The annulus 2 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is of a unitary type of construction, and its upper surface provides peripheral support for the roof 4 covering the center compartment 3. Preferably the roof is constructed with a centrally disposed domed portion 5, and is additionally supporting members such as girders 6, columns 1. Tie rods 8 and 9. extending between the base and the roof, and between the annulus and the roof respectively, may be provided to form a completely integrated tank structure. Supply lines It and I I, and discharge lines l2 and I3 are supplied for connection to the peripheral and central storage compartments, respectively. It is desir- .able that the lines to the respective compartments which have similar functions be interconnected at some point outside the tank in order to permit the use of both compartments as a unit. Likewise, means for venting the respective compartments should be provided as by port for the annulus is provided by filling the angle between the curving wall of the annulus and the base, by filling this angle, to a greater or lesser extent, with additional portions of the base material as indicated at la. Naturally, it desired, the marginal portion of the base may be preformed so as to form an annular groove vent lines It and I5 opening into the high and low pressure storage compartments respectively. These vent lines may be provided with safety valves l6 and I1, and. withvalved connecting lines ill for use when both compartments are used for the same service. I

Referring speci fically to Fig. 3, the base, designated by the numeral 20, is formed of tamped earth, cinders or the like and is maintained against substantial spreading of the base material, under the weight of the tank structure and its contents, by means of 'an annular retaining wall 2|. Also, when a base of this type is employed, it is necessary to provide for a substantial liquid-tight flooring in the central storage compartment. The preferred flooring is provided by sheet metal plates 22, shaped to conform with the upper surface of the base, and joined, one to the other and to the annulus by riveting, welding or other suitable means. As in the form of the structure shown in Fig. 2, the angle between the junction of the inner wall of the annulus and the floor of the central compartment should be reduced. In the structure illustrated by Fig. 3, this is done by means of a plurality of plates, shaped and joined to form an annular closure 23 for the angular space, and to provide support for the annular compartment,

It is to be understood that the plate floor provided in the structure according to Fig. 3, may

also be employed with a base of cementitious material, shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the

structures illustrated in either of these two fig- I ures may be accomplished by more conventional methods of construction. For example, the usual form of spheroidal tank may be erected, that is, a tank having a bottom or floor, sidewalls and a roof, with characteristics common to a conventiona1 spheroid, and then that portion of the present structure which forms the inner wall of the annulus, may be erected within the spheroid to produce a two-compartment tank such as is illustrated and described herein.

In constructing a tank of this type, the relative capacities and operating pressures of the respective compartments are determined primarily by the requirements of any particular situation. As an example, however, a suitable structure of this type may be one in which the annulus has an outside diameter, :r-x, of 150 feet, an inside diameter, 11-111, of 90 feet, and an internal diameter, z2, of 30 feet. The height of such a tank from ground level to the top of the domed roof for the inner storage compartment would be approximately 42 feet. Such a tank would be capable of operation under pressures as high as 100 pounds per square inch for the outer storage compartment, and as high as 50 pounds per square inch for the inner storage compartment.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific details of structure-or operation set forth above and in the drawings for the purpose of illustration, and various modifications may be made in these details without departing from the broad concept. This invention is to be considered as limited-only by the following claim in which it is intended to claim all inherent novelty, as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

A composite tank comprising an outer tubular horizontal annular chamber of substantially circular cross section and relatively small diameter adapted to maintain a fluid under relatively high pressure, said annular chamber defining a central space of relatively large diameter, a floor section supporting said annular chamber and spanning said central space defined by said annular chamber, a dome shaped roof section supported by said annular chamber spanning said central space and peripherally contacting the top of the wall of the annular chamber, means for maintaining a fluid seal between said annular chamber and said floor section, and means for maintaining a fluid seal between the contacting portions of said annular chamber and said roof section, said floor and said roof sections defining a separate inner chamber of relatively large diameter adapted to maintain a fluid under relatively low pressure.

GEORGE B. COOK. 

